title: Monitoring long-term effects of mild traumatic brain injury with magnetic resonance spectroscopy: a pilot study.
abstract: This pilot study explores the metabolic changes associated with persistent postconcussion syndrome (PCS) after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI; >12 months after injury) using magnetic resonance spectroscopy. We hypothesized that those mTBI participants with PCS will have larger metabolic differences than those without. Data were collected from mTBI participants with PCS, mTBI participants without PCS and non-head-injured participants (all groups: n=8). Magnetic resonance spectroscopy metabolite profiles within the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex showed a reduced creatine/choline ratio in mTBI patients compared with control participants. This data provides initial evidence for residual metabolic changes in chronic mTBI patients, but there was no conclusive relationship between these metabolic changes and PCS symptom report. Creatine is involved in maintaining energy levels in cells with high or fluctuating energy demand, suggesting that there may be some residual energy impairment in chronic mTBI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK. p.dean@surrey.ac.uk
authors.forename: Philip J A
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.forename: Maria C G
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Otaduy
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McNamara
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Seiss
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sterr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D038223:Post-Concussion Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult